Case Overview

PPB Case #11-40358

On Thursday May 17, 2011, at 4:59 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 1900 block of Southeast 134th Drive to conduct a welfare check of a 69-year-old woman. This call was in response to Multnomah County Adult Protective Services (APS) receiving a call from the woman's doctor who told APS that the woman called asking what to do after her son hit her in the head. APS told officers that the son has a history of assaulting his mother.

Officers arrived at the residence and talked to the victim, who had blood on her head, neck and shirt. She told officers that her 42-year-old son hit her in the head, put a knife to her throat and threw her down onto the ground. The victim told officers that her son told her, "I can kill you now," as he held a knife to her throat.

Officers learned that the suspect was not at the residence any longer but later in the evening, at 10:43 p.m., they received information that the suspect returned to the residence and that the victim was on her way home from the hospital. Officers learned from the victim that the suspect was in his bedroom and he kept a sword in his bedroom.

Officers opened the door to the house with the victim's consent and called several times for the suspect to come outside. Hearing no response from the suspect, officers began to clear the house and determined that the last place the suspect could be was in his bedroom.

Officers opened the bedroom door and saw the suspect lying on the bed. Officers told him several times to stand up and put his hands on his head but the suspect refused and said he was sleeping. Officers noted that the suspect's hands were down at his sides in the bed.

Officers gave the suspect verbal warnings about the possible use of a less lethal beanbag and the suspect stood up rapidly and said something to the effect of, "Fine, just (expletive) shoot me." The suspect began arguing with officers and slowly walking toward them but failing to put his hands on his head.

One officer, concerned that the suspect was closing the distance between himself and officers in a confined space with the threat of a sword being in the room, fired a single shot from a beanbag shotgun, striking the suspect in the leg, with little effect.
Another officer instructed the suspect to turn around and place his hands on top of his head. The suspect turned around, but initially did not put his hands on his head. After being warned about less lethal again, the suspect put his hands on his head but refused to interlock his fingers. Concerned the suspect was pull free and physically fight with officers, the officer Tased the suspect one time in the back. The Taser was effective and the suspect was taken into custody.

Paramedics responded to remove the Taser probes and examine his leg for any injury from the beanbag round.

The suspect was arrested and charged with Domestic Violence-related (mandatory arrest) charges of Assault in the Fourth Degree, Harassment and Menacing.